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Customs service sanctions 20 officers for illegal acts

The Nigeria
Customs Service (NCS) on Monday said that it had sanctioned 20 senior officers
in the past two months for various illegal acts allegedly committed during
official duties.

The NCS Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Wale Adeniyi, disclosed
this in a statement in Abuja.

He said that 9 officers were suspended from the service pending the outcome of
investigations on their offences.
According to him, “11 other officers were currently facing investigative panels
set up by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Dikko Abdullahi.

“Five of the
11 officers, including a Deputy Comptroller serving in Apapa Port, had appeared
at the investigative panel for negligence and improper examination of
containers.

“The other
six officers were made to appear before the same panel for offences ranging
from hacking of passwords, falsification of academic certificates, negligence
and general indiscipline.

“Also
mid-level management officers serving in the ports were also affected in the
recent action as five Assistant Comptrollers serving in Tin Can Island Port,
were among those suspended from service for improper release of seizures.

“Two others,
also Assistant Superintendents serving in Seme Command were suspended for
alleged rape, an offence said to have been committed in Badagry area of Lagos.”

Adeniyi said
that the Comptroller-General had expressed regrets that the involvement of
young officers recently recruited into the service in various illegal acts was
worrisome.

“Abdullahi
had warned that the service will not tolerate such officers, noting that the
machinery for investigations in the service will be strengthened to punish
erring officers”, he stated.

On illegal
Customs checkpoints, Adeniyi said the service would go after officers operating
such checkpoints in the country.

He said that
the Comptroller-General had acknowledged persistent complaint that on some
routes, particularly around Kogi, Ondo and Edo states.

“Abdullahi
has assured motorists that special units of his office will conduct special
surveillance operation to apprehend the culprits,” Adeniyi stated.
He also warned that officers operating such illegal check points would be
severely punished.

The NCS had on Friday suspended three Assistant Superintendent of Customs for
allegedly extorting 13,000 dollars at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport,
Abuja.

The officers allegedly extorted the money during the outward clearance of the
passengers on Emirates Airline flight.